??? Where Will You Spend ETERNITY???

Is this life all there is to it, or is there something beyond this present life? Is there an eternity to be spent somewhere, somehow? The very fact that this question can be thought of means that it is at least possible that when this life is over there is an eternity that we must spend somewhere. Is there any way we can be reasonably sure? I would like to present the facts that should enable a reasonable person to see what the truth is in this matter.

First, let's consider the importance of the matter. "Eternity" as I use it here refers to never ending conscious existence after this present life is over. We could speak of it as existence that goes on forever and ever. If there is such an existence to come, and if we now have a choice between everlasting happiness and everlasting misery, then, it is very important that we understand this. If the course of action we take now, in this present life, determines our eternal destiny, then, we should certainly want to know this and to take the right course of action now. Nothing could be more important than where and how we will spend eternity.

Consider these statements: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night." If these statements taken from the Bible are true, then, we certainly want to be sure we are among those who will have "everlasting life", not those who are "tormented ... forever and ever... and have no rest day nor night." Stop and think how terrible it would be to spend all eternity in torment. Actually, according to the Bible, the choice of everlasting life means not just everlasting existence, but everlasting peace, joy and happiness. Also it speaks of the everlasting existence in torment not as life at all, but as "the second death", which begins after physical death as we now know of it becomes abolished.

So, if these things are true, and if we can make sure now that we will have everlasting life instead of being cast into the lake of fire called "the second death", the only sensible thing to do is to take the action that will assure us of everlasting peace, joy and happiness. But can we know? And if it is so, what action must we take to secure everlasting life to come?

We live in an age when most people live for the moment, trying to get as much pleasure as possible out of this present life and giving very little thought, or no thought at all, to the possibility of a life to come after this one is over. We live in time when many people think primarily in terms of what they call science. The idea of having faith in something you really cannot prove by the physical senses of sight, touch, taste, etc. is rejected in some parts of society. Many reject what the Bible says about this matter because they cannot prove it by their natural senses or by scientific experimentation

Yet, strangely enough most of those who do reject the matter of faith in the Bible have faith in a theory that absolutely cannot be proven, a theory that has far less evidence for it than the Bible does for what it teaches. They accept the theory generally called "evolution". If you believe in the theory of evolution, please don't feel insulted. My purpose is not to insult you, but to sincerely help you see what is true on this most important of matters. So I ask you for your own sake to not judge the matter before you really hear it.

Think about it carefully; is there any real scientific proof that something can come out of nothing? Everything in true science, all experimental knowledge, goes against that idea. Can order, such as the magnificent order of life on this planet and the universe at large, come about without intelligent power that has the ability to make decisions, in other words a person, or persons, to bring it about? All true scientific evidence points to the fact that anything that exists with orderly design, such as human and animal life, the system of the universe, etc., must have a designer. It must have a maker. That is to say, all observation is totally in favor of the idea that there must be an intelligent being behind this great, complex, order of the universe and life within it.

The Bible puts it this way: "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Think about it; has there ever been a watch without a watchmaker, a house without a designer and builder, etc? So also this great universe (including our solar system by which we came up with the very idea of keeping time) the amazing human body, the complex individual cells that make up various types of life on this planet, etc. must have a supernatural, Eternal Being behind them. Everything with design has to have a designer. Every system has to have someone who systematized it. When we look at ourselves and things round about us, it is easy to see why the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." How can anyone with good reasoning ability accept the idea that this great universe came into existence and to its present form by pure chance?

The so-called evidence used to try to sustain the theory of evolution is no real evidence at all. Everything presented as evidence can easily be explained from the view of a Creator and the various stages in which He may have created things in the first place. On the other hand, to explain the existence of things in this universe without a Creator is impossible. Nothing in the universe improves when left to itself. This is an absolute scientific fact according to the second law of thermodynamics, which is accepted by all true physicists. That is to say, things left to themselves degrade. They do not become better, more complex or systematized by themselves.

Not only that, but on the natural level we know that nothing can come out of nothing. Therefore, since matter exits we are faced with two choices. Either matter itself is eternal, that is, it has always existed, and it has the ability and will power to change itself, or there is a supernatural non-material, spiritual power, with a will and ability to create matter and form it into the complex system we see in the universe we live in. Take your choice. In either case it is a matter of choice as to what you will to believe. Thus, it is a matter of faith in either case. It is faith either in a theory that things come out of nothing and form themselves into complex systems, or faith in an eternally existing Creator who made all things.

The real question is this. Which faith coincides with the facts of general observation, the facts of true science? As already mentioned, all observable facts tell us that nothing comes of nothing, and that all systems, designs, etc. have an intelligent being behind them. Thus, faith in the Almighty is based on much greater evidence. It is a solution to the origin of things that multitudes of intelligent, scientifically minded people have accepted.

However, what we need to know is this: Is there any evidence that the Bible is true when it speaks of eternal life and eternal torment? If it is true, we need to know what we can do to gain eternal life and be kept from eternal torment. How terrible it would be if it is true that by the right knowledge and action taken now we could secure for ourselves everlasting peace, joy and happiness, that, instead of doing so, we would just refuse, or neglect, to take the action needed and, therefore, end up being tormented day and night forever and ever. Just stop to think for a moment how horrible such an eternal destiny would be.

Well I have good news. There is very good evidence that the Bible is true and that it tells us how each one of us can secure everlasting life. There is very good evidence for the fact that the Bible is the word of the Almighty. Before we consider the evidence that what the Bible teaches on this matter is true let me quote what it says in summary of this aspect of things. We read, " For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life through Yahshua Messiah our Master." [In this, Holy Name Bible, translation the name of the Creator "Yahweh" is found used as it is in the original language of the Bible rather than the substituted terms "the LORD" and "GOD" as found in most English translations. Also the name Yahshua Messiah is used instead of the commonly used term "Jesus Christ". This name, as originally given to one who claimed to be the Messiah of Israel, means "Yahweh Savior". Free information will be provided on this important subject upon request.]

Let's look at that passage again. It says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life through Yahshua Messiah our Master." This is the summary of the good news. We do not have to experience the wages of our sin, which is death - including the second death (which is being cast into "the lake of fire") - but instead we can receive eternal life as the gift of Yahweh, our Creator. Let's consider this matter including the evidence that it is so.

"Sin" speaks not only of individual acts of wrong, but also of an entire condition of heart or mind. Ten Commandments were given on two tables of stone to the nation of Israel by Yahweh Himself. These Ten Commandments sum up all matters of what is right and wrong in moral conduct. There are other teachings found in the Law of Moses, given to the nation of Israel that give more detailed applications of the Ten Commandments. But morality is all summed up in two great commandments: The first is, "You shall love Yahweh your Mighty One with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is, "And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Thus we read in Romans 13:10b, "love is the fulfilling of the law."

What the Bible speaks of as "love" is not sensual gratification, attraction, or mere emotional attachment as is the meaning given to the word "love" as it is often used today. That kind of love outside of marriage and proper order is itself sinning. The kind of love the Bible speaks of here is living for, or choosing, the happiness and well being of the other person. Thus we are to live for Yahweh, who is the Supreme Being, supremely, and for our neighbor as we do for ourselves. None of us have done this throughout our lives, if even at all. Therefore, we are transgressors of the law. To transgress the law is to sin. To have a condition of mind, such as we all have at first, which is that of choosing our own benefit supremely, is to be in a state of selfishness and, therefore, sinfulness.

Once we have sinned we are lost. And the fact is that, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of Yahweh" Thus we are all lost to begin with. Until we get "saved" from our lost condition we are headed for everlasting punishment. But, "Yahweh so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "For Yahweh sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, though him, might be saved."

You see, Yahweh is the Infinite One. The entire universe exists in Him. But from all time He has also existed in a manifestation of His invisible infinite being. This manifestation and mode of existence whereby His created spirit beings, such as angels, have been able to see and know Him is called "the Word", or "the Expression". This "Word" (this living "Expression" of the invisible Infinite Being) is spoken of as being "with Yahweh" and yet as being "Yahweh" Himself. He is also called, "that Eternal Life, which was with the Father".

Through the power of Yahweh's Holy Spirit, the Word became flesh. The Word became born into this world as a baby. He was born by a miracle of virgin birth in the womb of a young Hebrew girl named Miriam (commonly called "Mary"). This little Jewish baby was therefore Yahweh's only begotten Son. Thus He was Yahweh Himself revealed in human form as the Only Begotten Son of Yahweh. He came into this world so that He could die as a substitute to pay for all our sins. Only a sacrifice as great as that of Yahweh's own Son, His own Eternal Life made flesh, was great enough to pay for all the sins of all mankind of all time. The law of Yahweh ("The Torah") is so great and important to the entire universe that only the substance of Yahweh's own life become flesh as the only begotten Son of Yahweh was great enough a sacrifice to pay its penalty for mankind when it became broken.

This child, named Yahshua (and now commonly called "Jesus") grew into a man who always did the will of His Heavenly Father. He never once sinned. Yet He willing allowed Himself to be nailed to a torture stake and lifted up between heaven and earth to suffer and die in our place. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, " Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Thus by virtue of His greatness, His life fully paid the penalty of all our sins.

Not only did He die, as many prophets foretold would happen, but He rose again from the dead on the third day. This man, who was Yahweh's Only Begotten Son, had prayed so earnestly to His Heavenly Father during His days on earth that He had received the power to rise again. The prophecy of scripture was fulfilled that said, " For you will not leave my soul in hell; neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay."

When He arose, His body of flesh and bone (with the blood having been shed for our sins) became glorified. He took on spiritual, eternal life and power as immortal and not subject to injury and decay.

As the risen Savior He appeared unto His followers during a period of forty days in which they saw, heard, and touched Him, and even ate food with Him. As Luke, the physician said when writing to a ruler called Theophilus, " he showed himself alive after his experience by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Then, on the fortieth day, while they talked with Him on the mount of Olives, He began to go back up into heaven from which, as the Word of Yahweh, He had come down through the virgin birth about 30 years before. Angels, then, appeared to His followers, called the apostles, and told them He would come again even as they had seen Him go.

Before He left, the resurrected Yahshua had told His apostles that they were to go into all the world and preach the good news (of His death for our sins, burial and resurrection) to all creation. He said, "He that believes" [this good news] "and is immersed shall be saved, but He that believes not shall be damned." We also read that, "The one who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and the one who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Yahweh remains on him." " And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of Yahweh has not life." So, if you believe this record of the good news and, therefore, believe in Him, by receiving Him you receive everlasting life, which means peace and happiness forever, instead of eternal torment.

How, then, can you believe? First, you must consider the records of the witnesses who saw Him do His many miracles during His life, saw Him put to death and be buried, but also saw Him alive again during that forty day period after which they watched Him go up into heaven. We have their records written down and collected into what is now called the New Testament. Why should you believe their records? There are a number of reasons to believe them. First, the events that happened to Him in His birth, life, death and resurrection were foretold by the same prophets who with complete accuracy foretold many events of history hundreds of years before they came to pass, including the rise and fall of cities, nations and empires. Secondly, those eyewitnesses to Yahshua's life, death, and resurrection gave up everything to tell what they witnessed. They were beaten, thrown in jail, and even put to death for standing firm in their eye witness accounts. Men have given up their lives for religious beliefs, philosophies, and political ideologies about which they were mistaken, but no group of men would give up their lives to spread what, as eyewitnesses, they knew were lies. Thirdly, multitudes who have truly accepted this Savior and the power of His new life have radically had their lives transformed and tell of their personal experiences in receiving His wonderful Holy Spirit to live in them. And fourthly, this good news has come down to us not only in written form, but also by word of mouth testimony, from person to person, throughout the centuries. In fact, the very course of history has been changed and affected for great good by the belief in this man who Himself claimed to be the Son of Yahweh.

This man, Yahshua of Nazareth, said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father but by me." If He was not who He claimed to be then what was He? He would, then, have to be the greatest deceiver ever to live. Or else, He would have to have been hopelessly insane. Yet no man who lived and taught as He did would tell such a horrible lie as claiming to be the only begotten Son of Yahweh if He knew otherwise. Also the great wisdom with which He spoke, including how He answered His enemies, and the other things about His life show He certainly was not an insane, but a man of great wisdom and stature, as well as of great moral excellency. Therefore, He was indeed who He claimed to be: the very Son of Yahweh who came down from heaven, by the virgin birth, to give Himself for our sins so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.

After you die, after this brief life is ended, you can have eternal life awaiting you. You can rise again unto everlasting peace and joy as one who will become like Him in his resurrected body. All you have to do, if you believe this message, which is documented more than any other event of ancient history, is to accept Him who Himself is the Eternal Life of Yahweh. If it is in your heart to believe Yahweh and turn back to Him in order to have Him forgive you and save you from your sins, there is enough evidence for you to do so.

To receive Him, you must believe He died in your place and accept His death as your own death to sin. To do this you are told to be buried with Him in His death, by being immersed in His name for the remission of sins that you might receive Him, by the Holy Spirit, to live in you and transform you into His likeness. We read in Romans 6:3-6, " Know you not, that so many of us as were immersed into Yahshua Messiah were immersed into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by immersion into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

So, if you believe, it is important that you act upon that belief, in order to make it a matter not just of the mind but of the heart, by doing what He and His apostles said to do. If you desire to thus accept Him, you are invited to contact us.

If you do not yet believe, we would be glad to help you to see the evidence more clearly. It is up to you to either accept the forgiveness of, and deliverance from, your sins, which He has provided, and receive the gift of eternal life, or to remain in your sins and receive the penalty of eternal punishment for them as He explained it will be. The broken law of Yahweh must be vindicated by either our own payment of its penalty, or by our accepting Yahweh's payment made in our behalf. I hope you will thoroughly investigate, as many others have wisely done, so that you can believe and have life.

Finally, if you do believe and, therefore, intend to follow through by receiving Him in the manner He specified, why not tell Him so now. Tell Him that you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and that you will follow Him throughout your earthly life. Ask Him to accept you, as did the thief who died next to Him, if you should die before you have had time to receive Him and His Spirit in the way He has given. Call out and say, "Lord Yahshua I accept your death in my place, I ask you to come into my life, for I plan to do what you have said to do to receive you as my Savior and Master. If I should die before I can make such preparation and carry this out, I ask you to accept me into your kingdom just like you accepted the thief who died along side you when he cried out, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Amen"

For immersion in His name for the remission of sins

or

To ask questions, or receive literature, please contact us.